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Marksmanship

The Art of Shooting with the Rifle

Contemporary articles, historical perspectives, and advice for the rifleman.

Hints for Long Range Riflemen - Horatio Ross letter of 11 April 1864 giving hints "intended more for young men who have not as yet taken part in public competitions than for our old and experienced riflemen."

The Captain of the Scottish Team for many years was veteran rifleman Horatio Ross. His letters encouraging Scotsmen desirous of "becoming a first-class shot" were published in the press. That of 11 April 1864 gave hints "intended more for young men who have not as yet taken part in public competitions than for our old and experienced riflemen." This advice is still relevant today and worthy of study by the long range rifleman.

It is well to begin at once to contract the habit of noticing the direction and strength of the wind, and the indications of them afforded by flags, the smoke from rifles, the rustling of leaves, and other signs. The firer should be on the alert as to these the whole time he is on the range, and experience will teach more about the effect of wind upon the bullet, and the way to judge it, than all the books that could be written.

The back or supine position (sometimes referred to as the Creedmoor position) was known at the end of the 18th century. Captain Ferguson demonstrating his famous breech loading flintlock rifle at Woolwich in 1776 was noted to have "hit the bull's eye at 100 yards, lying with his back on the ground."